Businessman splurges Rs 8.01 lakh on VIP number for scooter

Chandigarh: A Chandigarh-based businessman spent a whooping Rs 8.01 lakh on a VIP number for a scooter he gifted his son on his wedding.

Kanwaljit Singh Walia made the highest bid in an open auction conducted by Chandigarh's Registering and Licensing Authority (RLA) for number '0001' in CH-01-BC series for his Activa scooter, an RLA official said here.

"I bought this '0001' number for the Activa scooter that I gifted my son on his marriage," Walia said today. Walia, who is in catering business, already possess two '0001' numbers for his two ultra luxury four-wheelers.

Besides, Walia also bought two other registration numbers '0011' and '0026' for a high-end motorcycle and a four wheeler by paying Rs 2.02 lakh and Rs 61,000 respectively.

"I paid a total sum of Rs 10.64 lakh for these three numbers," he said adding that the payment had gone into government's kitty which would be spent for development works. The auction, which was held on May 9 here for CH-01-BC series numbers from '0001' to '9999', contributed Rs 77.71 lakh to the state exchequer.

The second highest bid was made for '0009' number which went to a Chandigarh-based firm for Rs 4.01 lakh, the RLA official said here.